How did I ever live without a smart sensor baby monitor?!

BabyCenter shares products we hope are helpful. We may earn commissions if you buy, but that doesn't influence what you see.

Okay, you guys. If you are still putting up with your old one-way voice-only monitors, stop. Stop it now. I recently took the new Panasonic Long Range Baby Monitor for a test drive and I am blown away.

Baby monitors have come a really, really long way in the last seven years and I am in awe.

Until recently, I was totally fine limping along with the one-way monitor I used with my older four children (which had a rechargeable battery that no longer worked). I mean, it was totally functional...as long as it was plugged in, I didn’t go out of range, and I was content with only listening in on my baby.

Basically, while the baby napped my options for doing anything were very limited. But the Panasonic monitor has been a game-changer, like going from Little League to the big leagues.

I wish I had unlimited time to share all the things I love about this monitor, but that is not the case, so I'm going to pick a few of my favorite things. Just know that there are so many more features that are totally amazing.

1. Super-clear video: It is such a relief for me to be able to see that my baby is okay and breathing (and even if her eyes are open or closed) when she's not making any noise. I can't tell you how many times I have woken my children up by hovering over their beds to see if they were breathing. I guess I am what they mean by "helicopter parent." They say "helicopter," I say "cautious." Tomato, tomahto.

2. Long-range capabilities and a rechargeable battery that lasts forever: This is a really big deal when I am busy with my baby's four older brothers. Now we aren’t confined to the next room or two while the baby sleeps. I can go in the garage and watch the boys ride their bikes, feed the dogs, do the dishes, get down spring clothes from the attic. I can't believe how much I can get done while my baby naps now!

3. Motion and noise alerts: This monitor lights up and plays a little jingle when the baby makes noise or moves, so you don't have to actively watch or listen. So, you can do other things without feeling like you might not notice your baby cry or move. What sort of things? Oh, like kissing a booboo from a bike accident or picking up all the clothes scattered down the stairs from a box that decided to jump right out of your arms.

Or, if the jingle is a little much for you on migraine days, you can easily switch the monitor to a lights-only mode.

4. Two-way speaker: This is super cool. This monitor actually allows you to speak remotely to your baby. I didn't know this was a feature I would use until I started using it all the time. It is super handy when I catch the boys sneaking into their baby sister's room to remove the crystals from her chandelier. Now I don't have to run all the way across the house to tell the kids to get their buns out of there! I love it.

Honestly, I could go on and on about the night vision, the temperature sensor, the white noise and lullaby player, the wall mount feature, so I will just say this -- try it. You won’t know how you lived without it, either.

Just hanging out in the dark, listening to lullabies. Did I mention the zoom on this thing?!

Want one? Get $10 off your monitor! Purchase on Amazon.com and enter promo code 10BABYCENTER to activate discount. Offer valid through 5/22 or while supplies last.

Do you have a monitor you love? What is your favorite feature?

This post is sponsored by Panasonic. All opinions are truthful and my own.

This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

This site is published by BabyCenter, L.L.C., which is responsible for its contents as further described and qualified in the Terms of Use.